Fellowship Archive

« Older Entries

16th Annual Carolinas Lutheran Women (CLW) Convocation

Posted October 1, 2026 By admin

The Carolinas Lutheran Women (CLW) Council joyfully invites you to our Sixteenth Annual Convocation this October, hosted by Organ Lutheran Church at Faith Lutheran Church. We would be honored to have the women of your congregation join us for a day of faith, joy, fellowship, and worship!

For this year’s Convocation, we’ll explore the healing oils and herbs of the Bible. Our prayer is that everyone leaves feeling renewed, encouraged, refreshed by His Word, and reminded of the hope, comfort, and love God pours into our lives each day. Come with friends from church, bring your daughter, mother, sister, or neighbor—or come on your own. All are welcome as sisters in Christ. You can register and find more information at https://www.carolinaslutheranwomen.org/upcoming-events.

  • Registration closes on September 30th. The $10 registration fee includes lunch.
  • Affiliated congregations may nominate a member (provided she has given her approval) or iindividuals can self-nominate to serve on the CLW Council. Nomination forms can be found online at https://www.carolinaslutheranwomen.org/.
  • Yearly contributions can be sent at any time to Linda, CLW Treasurer. Checks should be made payable to Carolinas Lutheran Women. This is not a mandatory contribution. All donations are completely voluntary. An annual amount of $60 is a recommendation.
  • A proposed 2027 budget will be presented during the Annual Convocation.
  • In-Kind Gifts for Rowan Helping Ministries (RHM) Shelter Services will be collected. RHM Shelter Services provide temporary shelter to Rowan County residents who have no alternative night-time residence. The shelter needs the following items for their residents: towels & washcloths; blankets; Q-tips; toothpaste; soap; travel-size shampoo, conditioner, body wash, lotion; adult flip flops (shower shoes); and gallon & quart ziplock bags.
  • The Convocation Offering will be collected for NALC Disaster Response. Please make checks payable to Carolinas Lutheran Women and note “Convocation Offering.”
  • Hotel Accommodations: Individuals planning to stay overnight are to make their own reservations in Salisbury, NC. Area hotels include:
    • Hampton Inn Salisbury
    • (704) 637-8000
    • 1001 Klumac Rd.
    • Salisbury, NC 28144

 

  • Holiday Inn Express & Suites Salisbury
  • (704) 314-4100
  • 125 Marriott Cir.
  • Salisbury, NC 28144
Filed in Fellowship, Lutheran Women, NALC, Other Happenings, South Carolina Mission District

Blessing of the Pets

Posted October 1, 2026 By admin

The custom of the Church blessing the animals is inspired by St. Francis of Assisi, who is recognized as the patron saint of animals and the environment. Fr. Francis viewed all animals to be in close kinship with God’s people and all of Creation. The Blessing of the Animals is traditionally held on or near the feast day of St. Francis which is observed on October 4th.

Church family members may bring their pets and companion animals to receive a short prayer and a gentle blessing as a sign of God’s divine care and protection. St. Jacob’s Pet Blessing will be held on Saturday, October 3rd at 10:00 AM in the parking lot adjacent to the Fellowship Hall. This year we will also combine the event with a collection of dog food and cat food to support We Care of Chapin.

Filed in Fellowship, Other Happenings

St. Jacob’s 250th Anniversary Year-long Celebration

Posted September 14, 2026 By admin

In August we welcomed our final special guest preacher when we hosted Pastor Dave Tholstrup and his wife Janice. Throughout the year it has been a joy to welcome several of the shepherds from our recent past and we look forward to the culmination of our celebration in October when we welcome our NALC Bishop Dan Selbo.

Before that happens, we have one more opportunity to celebrate. This month we will have a congregational outreach event distributing St. Jacob’s 250th Anniversary blankets to several of our friends and shut in members. We are so thankful for God’s blessing our congregation with a long history and loving church family throughout the many generations of worshipers who have called this place home. Below is a list of our remaining planned events.

  • September 20th – Congregational Outreach Event; blankets for residents at Generations.
  • October 25th – Homecoming and Anniversary Sunday, guest preacher NALC Presiding Bishop Dan Selbo; special catered congregational dinner following worship.
  • November TBD – Golden Agers Recognition and Celebration.
Filed in Bible Study, Fellowship, Other Happenings, Outreach, Worship and Music, Worship Service

Music Notes

Posted September 10, 2026 By admin

We need your help. Our choir is going through a period of rebuilding as several of our members are no longer with us. We will continue to assist in leading worship weekly as we are able, but we are asking you to help us with the anthem. We will plan a hymn for the anthem twice a month. The Sundays we are singing will be published in the newsletter along with hymns we are singing.

Please come join us to sing our praise to God. We will meet at 9:15 AM in the choir room to run through the anthem with everyone, then just come join the choir during the passing of the peace and return to your seat after the anthem. Of course, you are welcome to sit in the choir throughout to help lead worship if you would like.

  • September 13th
    • Forgive Our Sins as We Forgive If you are unfamiliar with the hymn, here is a link to listen to. I’m sure you will know the tune.
    • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZIybA5NoTY
  • September 27th is Men’s Sunday and they will provide the anthem.

 

Please help us fill the church with song.

Filed in Choir Notes, Fellowship, Other Happenings, Worship and Music, Worship Service

Pastor’s Classes for New Members and Everyone

Posted September 7, 2026 By admin

During September, Pastor David will host Sunday morning classes for our newest members, visitors, and anyone who would like to know more about St. Jacob’s, the South Carolina Mission District, and the North American Lutheran Church. Classes will meet in one of the Sunday school rooms in the Christian Education Hall downstairs from the church sanctuary. Dates for our classes will be September 13th , 20th, and 27th. Please let Pastor David know if you are interested.

Filed in Bible Study, Fellowship, Other Happenings, Pastor

Up and Going

Posted September 6, 2026 By admin

Thursday, August 20th was the Annual 4 Churches Meeting hosted this year by Macedonia Lutheran Church in Prosperity. Upon arrival each person was given a bright green bulletin and a prize number ticket. We entered the beautifully red, white and blue decorated Fellowship Hall with matching clothed favors on each table for each person attending.

We were welcomed by Sandy, President of Macedonia’s Goldies. She introduced each of the four churches. Forty persons attended and nine were from St. Jacob’s.

Betty gave the devotions entitled The Tree of Life – Jesus Christ our Lord. We sang together the hymn “Tree of Life” by Marty Haugen. Devotions concluded with prayer. Beautiful piano music was provided by a Newberry College Music Minister. After the blessing for the meal, we enjoyed a bountiful and delicious meal. Macedonia provided the meats (BBQ and fried chicken) and everyone else brought a side dish or dessert. Food brings out the very best in us as we enjoyed the food and laughed and talked with everyone around us.

Dorothy presided over the prize drawings. Many unique and special gifts were given and joyfully received. The closing prayer was given by Dorothy. Much conversation and many hugs transpired as we said goodbye and planned to see each other next year. St. Jacob’s will host the 2027 meeting.

The Up and Going’s Annual Apple Run to Hendersonville, NC is scheduled for Thursday, September 10th . We will meet at 8:30 AM in the bus shed parking lot. A sign-up sheet is posted on the Up and Going bulletin board. Please plan to join us.

Helen

Team Leader for Up and Going

Filed in Fellowship, Other Happenings, Up and Going

Midweek Bible Studies Return

Posted September 4, 2026 By admin

Our midweek Bible studies will resume according to our regular schedule for September and the months following. Wednesday morning Bible study will meet in the church office Conference Room beginning on September 2nd at 9:30 AM each week. The topic for our study will be centered upon your favorite Bible stories, Bible verses, and traditional hymns. We will read each one in its fuller context and discuss the attributes that give them so much meaning for God’s people.

On September 8th, our Tuesday evening Bible study will begin meeting on the second and fourth Tuesday each month at 6:30 PM in the church office conference room. Our topic for study will be a close look at how the architecture of churches and the symbolism inside our church nave shapes our identity as Christians who are saved by God’s grace through faith in Christ Jesus. Please plan to attend one or both of these studies. There are no special materials needed. Friends and neighbors are also welcome to attend.

Filed in Bible Study, Fellowship, Other Happenings, Pastor

From Your Pastor’s Heart

Posted September 1, 2026 By admin

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

The month of September brings with it a bittersweet feeling for me, for the first time in many years I will not have a class of youth members setting out on the course for Confirmation instruction. It is truly a pastor’s joy, especially for this pastor, to spend time with our younger members and learn from them as they spend time learning from me.

Over the years, I have learned so much from the many bright and energetic kids I have taught. I’ve learned that they truly do care about the things going on in our world. They care about the needs of our community and the wellbeing of the members of our congregation. Mostly, I have learned that, though they may be sometimes quiet on the subject, they truly love their Lord Jesus and are thankful for all God has done in their lives.

I remember those long-ago days when I sat in the classroom with my pastor. He was just as hopeful for me and my classmates as I have always been for those whom I have had the pleasure of instructing. Conversations around the Lord’s Prayer and the Ten Commandments tend to open up the minds of our youth. Reading the Great Bible Stories of the Old and New Testaments capture their attention and shed light on the mercy and love God has for His people. It’s truly a wonder to see the connections that are made as our kids grow in faith.

Yet, in all the marvel of my experiences with the youth of the Lutheran Church, one thing sticks out for me. Most children when they embark on Catechetical instruction do not know much about the Bible or the basics of the Christian faith. For a pastor, it’s a lot to pass on in one hour per week for sixteen months. I can’t help but wonder, how much faith formation is truly happening in the home? Do parents take the above passage from Proverbs at face value and act upon it?

Some of the children whom I’ve taught over the years now have children of their own. Some still keep in touch; I’ve officiated at some of their weddings; and I encourage them (and their parents) however I can; but I’m no longer their pastor. I handed that relationship over years ago, but truly, God has never released me from the promises I made to them when they were baptized. That same truth is for all of us to consider as we baptize the children of St. Jacob’s and celebrate with them as they become confirmed in their faith.

My prayer for Bryleigh, Copeland, MacKenzie, and Samantha is that they are thankful for the instruction they have received in Sunday school and Catechetical classes and continue to grow in their faith and relationship with Jesus. I’m sure they will, because as members of their church family, we will continue to encourage them as they continue to grow in years. That’s the promise we made to them on the day they were baptized, and God has not released us from that promise.

As an ordained pastor of the Church of Christ, it is my vow to continue to teach and instruct the children of God so they too may grow in faith and relationship with Christ. That’s all of you. I promise that I will continue to train up the children of God in the way they should go and pray that none will depart from it. God bless us all as we grow in faith and love together. That is what is on your pastor’s heart as we begin this new month together.

Grace to you and peace,

Pastor David Nuottila

Filed in Bible Study, Fellowship, From the Pastor’s Heart, LCY, Lutheran Church Youth, Other Happenings, Outreach, Pastor, Worship Service, Youth and Family Ministries

Confirming Our Youth

Posted August 20, 2026 By admin

I would like to be the first to congratulate our four confirmands for 2026. For the past two years, excluding some time between seasons, these four students have met with me and studied the Scriptures, Luther’s Small Catechism, and the historical liturgy of the Church. I am especially proud of these four as they have endured several schedule changes, multiple quizzes and exams and even summer classes which is a first for this pastor.

But all four have demonstrated to me that they are ready to accept and affirm the promises made for them in Baptism. Well done Bryleigh, Copeland, MacKenzie, and Samantha. These four will be confirmed on Sunday, September 6th as a part of our service of worship.

Filed in Bible Study, Chirstians Under Construction, Fellowship, LCY, Lutheran Church Youth, Other Happenings, Pastor, Youth Director

Up and Going

Posted August 15, 2026 By admin

On Thursday, July 9th , fourteen members and guests gathered at the Chapin Ale House for the July Up and Going meeting.

Helen gave the devotions from the “Faith Matters” article in the ICL magazine written by Rev. Ron Philabaum, Senior Pastor at Mt. Horeb Lutheran Church in Chapin. Pastor Philabaum wrote about the joys of blueberries, butterflies and buttercups in the spring and summer. Bible readings were Matthew 6 and Psalm 104. Devotions ended with prayer.

The hostess seated us and we ordered our drinks and selected food items. Each booth offered grace for our meal. While waiting, we all signed Get Well cards for absent members who are sick.  Laughter and conversation filled the area. Food was enjoyed and goodbyes we said.

The August meeting is the 4 Churches Meeting. This year the meeting will be held on Thursday, August 20th at Macedonia Lutheran Church located on Macedonia Church Road in Prosperity at 11:00 AM. We are to meet there by 10:45 AM. We are asked to bring a dessert or a side dish. Meat will be provided by the hosting church. Hope you all will be able to attend. We always have a great time. September is the annual apple run….September 10th. Please plan to join us.

Helen

Team Leader for Up and Going

Filed in Bible Study, Fellowship, Other Happenings, Up and Going
« Older Entries